Climbers rescued after falls in Northumberland

Helicopters and mountain rescue teams were called to two incidents in remote parts of Northumberland on Tuesday.
Mountain rescue team in action at Kyloe Crags.Mountain rescue team in action at Kyloe Crags.
Mountain rescue team in action at Kyloe Crags.

At 1.15pm, the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were requested to attend an incident at Peel Crag near Once Brewed.

A climber had fallen approximately 16m, only a few metres away from a another similar incident that the Mountain Rescue Teams responded to just 10 days earlier; landing on boulders and uneven ground at the bottom of the crag.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance treated and stabilised the casualty before being stretchered by Mountain Rescue and the North East Ambulance Service HART team across uneven ground to the waiting helicopter.

At 2.20pm, as the Peel Crag casualty was being loaded into the air ambulance, the teams were requested to attend another fallen climber incident at Kyloe Cra, near Belford.

Three team members and a North East Ambulance Service paramedic worked together to stabilise the casualty who had sustained a serious lower leg injury in his fall.

Given the nature of the terrain and the casualty’s injuries it was deemed a helicopter evacuation was required. A Coastguard helicopter was sent from Prestwick for its winching capabilities. The helicopter on arrival at Kyloe Crag winched the stretcher and casualty on board from the location below the crag. The casualty was then transferred to a crewed road ambulance for onward transport to hospital. The North East Ambulance Service HART team was also involved in the incident.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A mountain rescue spokesman said: “With three climbers, each with potentially life changing injuries airlifted from Northumberland crags within 10 days, the Mountain Rescue Teams wish to remind all climbers to minimise their exposure to risk by taking reasonable precautions.

“Furthermore, the Mountain Rescue Teams would like to thank their Members’ employers, families and friends, who allow members to disappear to attend such incidents at a moment’s notice without question, day or night. All Mountain Rescue personnel are volunteers and each team requires around £20k every year to remain operational, which is funded entirely by charitable donations.”